Portman declines leadership bid

5:12 PM,
Nov. 13, 2012

Written by

Deirdre Shesgreen
Gannett Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON-Sen. Rob Portman decided not to make a bid for the chairmanship of the Senate Republican's campaign committee on Tuesday, a post that would have put him in charge of his party's efforts to win control of the Senate in 2014.

Portman had spent the last few days talking to his Senate colleagues about whether he should made a leadership run, with allies encouraging him to jump into the race. But another lawmaker - Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas - had already declared his candidacy and was working to secure the votes to win.